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Most Helpful Favorable Review

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

A good old fashioned mystery

Every once in awhile, you find a great mystery that puts on no airs and treats you to a worthwhile romp through another country. This book could have been a 1940's movie - completely well rounded - no hard edges and fun to follow.

If you're looking for a great diver...

Every once in awhile, you find a great mystery that puts on no airs and treats you to a worthwhile romp through another country. This book could have been a 1940's movie - completely well rounded - no hard edges and fun to follow.

If you're looking for a great diversion - it's a well written book that teaches you a thing or two about France, wine and the art of writing.

posted by anonymousNC on February 14, 2010

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Most Helpful Critical Review

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

The Vintage Caper

At first, I was not a huge fan of the novel, as the setting and characters in L.A. were too superficial for my taste, and the aura of the plot was not nearly as relaxing as A Good Year or A Year in Provence. However, after Sam, the insurance detective, heads off to Mar...

At first, I was not a huge fan of the novel, as the setting and characters in L.A. were too superficial for my taste, and the aura of the plot was not nearly as relaxing as A Good Year or A Year in Provence. However, after Sam, the insurance detective, heads off to Marseilles, my feelings began to change. I think Mayle demonstrates the contrast of attitudes and personalities in Europe versus the West Coast, and the expatiations on wine and gourmet food left me craving a fine dining experience.

posted by Jbmorrow on January 27, 2010

Was this review helpful? YesNoThank you for your feedback.Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

A good old fashioned mystery

Every once in awhile, you find a great mystery that puts on no airs and treats you to a worthwhile romp through another country. This book could have been a 1940's movie - completely well rounded - no hard edges and fun to follow.

If you're looking for a great diversion - it's a well written book that teaches you a thing or two about France, wine and the art of writing.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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The Vintage Caper

At first, I was not a huge fan of the novel, as the setting and characters in L.A. were too superficial for my taste, and the aura of the plot was not nearly as relaxing as A Good Year or A Year in Provence. However, after Sam, the insurance detective, heads off to Marseilles, my feelings began to change. I think Mayle demonstrates the contrast of attitudes and personalities in Europe versus the West Coast, and the expatiations on wine and gourmet food left me craving a fine dining experience.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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jchbooks

Posted March 20, 2011

read better

this book was a disappointment. I have been a avid follower of Peter's books but this one was not nearly as good as others he has written. Almost like he had a deadline to meet and put this out. Hope he gets his groove back.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Anonymous

Posted February 9, 2010

The Vintage Caper

Have always enjoyed Peter Mayle's books. This was delightful and an easy read. I enjoyed the relationships and the character development. I like his writing style and enjoy the descriptions of both his characters and the locales. This particular book gave some interesting details of wine. I love wine but am not an "expert" on all of the nuances of the grape.
I hope he will write more - both fiction and "escapism".

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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Jean55

Posted January 16, 2010

Mayle needs to write more!

While this book was not quite as perhaps sophisticated or in depth as Mayle's earlier books in terms of the local culture, food, drink, etc., I thoroughly enjoyed it. I love hearing about the countryside and how he wove in the mystery. Please write more, more often.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

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Anonymous

Posted October 5, 2012

Enjoyable book

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Anonymous

Posted February 21, 2010

delightful

fun

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

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This is an amusing crime caper

Hollywood entertainment lawyer Danny Roth cherishes his wine collection, insured for three million dollars. He is so full of pride over his vintage collection he boasts excessively about his vino darlings during a Los Angeles Times interview. However, Danny feels violated when someone who obviously read the article absconded with his wine collection.

Insurance agent Elena Morales hires her former boyfriend Sam Levitt, a wine connoisseur, to investigate the theft. He follows the trail to France where he teams up with insurance agent Sophie Costes, a wine and food gourmand. They soon track the purloined wine to Marseilles with billionaire wine collector Francis Reboul as the prime suspect behind the theft.

This is an amusing crime caper that will have readers toasting Peter Mayle with A Good Year French champagne. The story line is fast-paced and straightforward as the shortest distance between California and French Lessons is between Sam and the other players. With a solid cast, Vintage Caper is lighthearted fun as each key participant makes their play for the valuable vino with not one of them fully trusting any of the others.

Harriet Klausner

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Frisbeesage

Posted October 21, 2009

If you liked Peter Mayle's other novels you will surely enjoy this one!

In The Vintage Caper Peter Mayle brings back Sam Levitt, the charming and irascible crook turned PI from Anything Considered. Elena, Sam's beautiful but cantankerous ex, is in a bind. The insurance company she works for will have to pay out on a multimillion dollar claim unless the vintage wines stolen from their client can be found. Sam is a natural for the job, a wine connoisseur who also happens to be a private investigator.

The plot of The Vintage Caper is disappointingly predictable and bland. A few more twists and surprises would have livened things up. However, you don't read Peter Mayle for plot, you read for the gorgeous descriptions of gourmet meals, rare wines, beautiful scenery, and the playful, sparkling dialogue between characters. As always, the characters themselves are pitch perfect - charming rogues and smart, beautiful women whose company you will enjoy. Reading this book is like taking a lovely, relaxing and fun-filled vacation to France. If you liked Peter Mayle's other novels you will surely enjoy this one.

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